Loose-leaf binder



June 12, 1928.- 1,673,315

I. F. H. CRUMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Pie/4M bf C H June 12. 1928. 1,673,315

F. H. CRUMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 INVENTOR v RANK HLZU ATTORNEY June 12. 1928. 1,673,315

F. H. CRUMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fen/m if. (BUMP WWW.

ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK H. CRUDIP, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed April 26, 1927.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders, and particularly to that type embodied in Patent No. 1,037 ,314, issued September 3, 1912, having cover sections extensibly connected to accommodate variable numbers of leaves or sheets and held in binding relation to the latter by straps extended into and secured in pockets punched in the back edges of the sheets. To secure the straps in the sheets, the pockets are formed wit-h ears which, in actual practice, are frequently bent and even torn off, thus rendering them useless for the purpose of retaining the straps in the, pockets unless they are reinforced with cloth or paper to restore their original rigidity.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a loose leaf binder of the above described type which eliminates the employment of cared pockets and the attendant disadvantages and provides positive and quick adjustable means for securing the leaves or sheets to the binder cover and in a manner to permit when required the quick release of the sheets without the necessity as heretofore of releasing the cover locking mechanism.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a loose leaf binder which has a wide range of sheet capacity, and an adjustable back cover section which, instead of being built into the top and bottom cover sections asheretofore, is held in position on the inside of the cover sections by elements which also carry the binding straps and locking mechanism. Such a construction and arrangement greatly reduces the cost of manufacture of binders of this type.

I will describe only one form of loose leaf binder embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of loose leaf binder embodying my invention in closed position and in binding relation to a plurality of sheets or leaves;

Figure 2 is a view showing the binder in top plan and open with a portion of the sheets broken away to reveal the means for attaching the bottom plate;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3- 3 of Figure 4 with the top cover section in closed position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4- 1: of Figure 3 with the top cov r mention in open position;

Serial No. 186,723.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the binder in open position and the top cover section released to permit removal of the sheets from the binder;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the top plate of the binder;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the brackets employed on the top and bottom plates of the binder;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective of the bottom cover section and the adjacent end of the back connecting section for the purpose of illustrating the construction of the bottom cover section to accommodate the connecting section and adjacent parts;

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the bottom bar embodied in the binder.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention, in its present embodiment-,comprises a cover including rigid top and bottom sections T and B, respectively, and a flexible back section F which serves to hingedly connect the other two sections to form a cover for a plurality of sheets of paper S which is capable of being opened and closed in the manner of a book and which is extensible to accommodate any number of sheets S within certain limits. As illustrated to advantage in Figures 2 and 9, the cover sections T and B are reduced in thickness for a major portion of their length as indicated at 15, in order to compensate and receive the ends of the connecting section F and adjacent parts of the binder so that the two cover sections T and B will be of substantially uniform thickness from end to end and thus in no wise injure the sheets S which are interposed therebetween.

Secured to the confronting sides of the sections T and B at their inner ends are a pair of plates P and P formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material and coextensive in length with the width of the cover sections. Each plate is provided with in-turned ends 16 which form channels through which the longitudinal edges of the connecting section F are slidable. These end portions of the plate are formed with openings 17 through which rivets 18 are extended for securing the plate to the respective cover section.

The fleets as applied have their heads disposed in the lowermost openings 17 so that the channels remain unobstructed to permit the free sliding of the connecting section therein. It is important to note that the opposite ends of each of the plates terminate substantially flush with the longitudinal. edges of the top and bottom cover sections, and as the channels provided by the in -turned end 16 are disposed at the extreme ends of the plate, a connecting section F of approximately the same width as the cover sections T and B'can be employed. Thus the entire cover is devoid of irregular lines between the connecting section and the top and bottom sections, as is present in covers of this character in which the connecting section is reduced in width in respect to the other sections. The construction of the plate ends also permits flush spacing of the rivets 18 from the edges of the top and bottom cover sections to securely hold the plates to the sections and to eliminate the possi bility of the rivets being torn from the cover sections.

Both plates P and P have their inner or confronting edges constructed to provide two pairs of upi'vardly inclined lips 19, the lips of each pair being spaced apart and having formed thcrebetween a downwardly inclined lip 20. The purpose for which these lips are designed" will be described hereinafter. Straps 21 of metal or other suitable rigid material are riveted to the plate P or P each at a point between each pair of lips 19, as illustrated in Figure 5, in order to form slots through which a pair of straps 22 extend. In this manner, the straps 22 are slidably associated with the plates P and P" to allow an adjustment of the straps on. the plates, as will be described hereinafter. As illustratedin Figure 8, each bracket has a concavo-convex portion in order to provide a rounded edge against which the strap 22 bears. By means of this rounded edge, the possibility of forming kinks in the straps 22 is prevented. I i

As shown in Figures 2 and 9, the lower plate P is provided with nip-struck ears 23 in which a. resilient wire 2% is detachably se cured. The ears are spaced apart in pairs to accommodate the two binding straps 22, and the wire 24 serves to hold the straps in engagement with pins 25 upstruck from the plate P and insertible into any one of a plurality of openings 26 formed in the straps 22 at intervals along the length of the latter. By this construction, the straps 22 are so cured to the bottom plate P but can be released and adjusted longitudinally on the plate to permit an adjustment of the top and bottom covers with respect to each other for the purpose of accommodating various numbers of sheets S.

The straps 22in passing from the lower plate P are, of course, extended beneath the brackets 21 for that plate and then beneath the brackets 21 of the top plate P. At a point beyond the plate P the straps 22 are connected by a crossbar 27 permanently secured to the straps. These ends of the straps are filrth-er riveted to the adjacent end of the connecting section F, thereby confining; the plate P against accidental removal from the straps. To look the plate P in adjusted p0 sitionlongitudinally on the straps, the conventional shaft 28 is provided. The ends of this shaft are journaled in brackets29 on the plate P and the shaft ends provided With cams 30 which by rotating the shaft may be brought into bindingengagement with the straps therebeneath, so as to lock the plate against movement on the straps. The shaft as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 is in locked position, but it will be understood that by swinging the U.-sha.ped intermediate portion upwardly and inwardly the cams 30 will be moved to release the straps 22.

The several sheets S positioned within the cover are constructed at their back edges to provide pockets 31, while adjacent the back edge the sheets are formed. with openings 32 'to accommodate posts 33 and openings 3 st to accommodate posts 35. The'posts rise from and are secured to a bottom bar 8'6. suehbar. being formed with slots 37 and L-shaped in cross section, as clearly illus trated in Figure .10., in order that when the bar is in proper position with respect to the bottom plate P it may lie flat upon the bottom plate. This bar is provided with two openings 38 which. are positioned to accommodate the lower ends of the posts should there be a minimum number of sheets within the cover. The posts 35 depend from and are secured to atop bar comprising a stationary section 39 and a movable section #10. The posts are actually secured to the stationary section 39, and this section is recessed at its inner edge to provide a pair of spaced pockets 4E1 which, in the applied positions of the section, register with the pockets 31 of the sheets A pair of hoaced projections 42 are formed on the sationary section 39, and these rivet-s are slidably received in slots 43 of the movable section 40. Fingers 44 are formed on. the forward edge of the movable section. by slotting the latter, andv these fingers are adapted to engage and secure the binding straps 22 within the pockets 41 of the stationary section 39', as well as in the pockets of the sheets S, in order that. the several. sheets as a unit may. be securely held within the cover. The fingers 44 are shown in Figure 2 in strap-engaging position, and in Figure 5 in strap-disengaging position. The section 40 can be moved to cause the fingers to occupy either of these two positions by manually gripping an upstruclr lip 45 on the section 40..

ti l

lln

In the operation of the hinder, the sheets S to be secured therein are first applied to the lower post 38, the post 35, together with the upper cross bar, having been previously applied to the sheets. In this manner, the several sheets are held in proper stacked position within the cover. WVith the fingers 44 in the released position shown in Figure 5 and the shaft 28 moved to release the straps 22, the top cover section can be elevated from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure l, in which the straps 22 are moved into the pockets 31 and ll of the sheets and bar section 39, respective- 1y. By now sliding the bar section to the position shown in Figure 2, the fingers 44 will be moved to engage the inner side of the straps 22 and thereby lock the straps to the upper cross bar and, consequently, to all of the sheets S, so that the latter are now locked within the cover. The movement of the straps into the pockets 41 is facilitated by the provision of the lips 20, as they function to flex the straps forwardly into the pockets as the top cover section is lifted.

Having applied the binding straps to the sheets as just described, the top cover section, together with the plate P, can be moved downwardly to cause the inner edge of the plate P to have abutting relation to the upper cross bar. WVith the top cover iii) section moved to this position, the cover as a whole is adjusted to snugly fit the sheets therein, and this top cover section may be locked in this adjusted position by movement of the shaft- 528 to strap locking position, as illustrated in Figure 2.

When desiring to release the sheets S to permit the addition of new sheets or the removal of the old sheets, the straps 22 may be detached from the upper cross bar by merely sliding the movable bar section 40 to the position shown in Figure 5, in which the fingers l l release the straps and thereby permit lowering of the top cover section. By now removing the top cross bar, together with the post 35, access may be had to the sheets S. It is important to note that the sheets may be released without the necessity of actuating the shaft 28 to release the straps 22.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of loose leaf binder embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back cover section connecting the top and bottom sections, straps secured to the back cover section and to the bottom cover section and slidable with respcct to the top cover section, pocketed sheets between the top and bottom cover sections into which said straps are adapted to be extended, a bottom bar on the straps having upstanding posts extending into the sheets, a top bar having depending posts extending into the sheets, and means on the top bar movable to secure the straps within the pockets of the sheets and to thereby secure the sheets to the binder cover.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a cover having extensible sections, means for connecting the sections to secure the latter in fixed extended position, said means including straps, pocketed sheets within the cover having post-receiving openings, a bar carried by the straps and having posts thereon adapted to extend into certain of the openings of said sheets, and a second bar having posts adapted to extend into the remaining openings of the sheets, said bars being arranged at opposite sides of the sheets and the last mentioned bar having fingers movable thereon to engage and secure the straps within the pockets of said sheets.

3. In a loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 1 wherein. the bottom bar is of L-form in cross section and is provided with slots through which said straps extend.

l. In a loose leaf binder, cover sections extensibly connected, plates secured to the bot tom and top sections of the cover, straps secured to the plate of the bottom cover and slidably associated with the plate of the top cover, brackets on the plates beneath which the straps extend, said brackets having a rounded edges to prevent kinking of the straps, a bottom bar on the straps having upstanding posts adapted to extend into pocketed sheets, a top bar having depending posts extending into the sheets, said straps being movable to be received within the pockets of said sheets, and means on the top bar movable to secure the straps within the pockets and to thereby secure the sheets to the binder cover.

5. In a loose leaf binder as embodied in claim st wherein the top and bottom cover sections are reduced in thickness for a portion of their length in the manner and for the purpose described.

6. In a loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 4 wherein the plate for the top cover section is provided with lips which function to flex the straps into the pockets to facilitate said means engaging and securing the straps within the pockets.

7. In a loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a movable element having fingers thereon which engage the straps.

8. In a loose leaf binder, cover sections extensibly connected, notched sheets between the sections, releasable means secured to the cover sections for adjusting the covers in position in accordance with the number of lit) sheets between the sections, a portion of said means engaging within the notches in the sheets, means independent of the cover sections locking and uifilocking on said releasable means within the notches in the sheets for securing the sheets between the covers.

9. lna loose leat binder, cover sections extensibly connected, notched and perforated sheets between the sections, releasable means secured to the cover sections for adjusting the covers in position in accordance with the number of sheets between the sections, a portion of said means engaging within the notches in the sheets, means independent of the cover sections lochingand unlocking on said releasable means within the notches in the sheets; one member otthe independent locking and unlocking means having depending posts engaging within certain perforations in the notched sheets, the other member of the independent locking and unlocking' meanshaving upstandii'ig posts which engage other perforations in the notched sheets.

10. In a temporary binder consistin of top and bottom covers provided with binding strips extending between the covers and clamping means for holding the covers in spaced relation, independent post plates per torated to receive the binding strips, means carried by one oi? the post plates for opening and closing the perforations, one post plate provided with perforations tor the binding strips and bent at right angles to lie flat upon the bottom cover plate, and the posts secured to the plate standing normally at right angles to the adjacent cover plate.

11. In a temporary binder consisting of top and bottom covers provided with binding strips extending between the covers and clamping means for holding the covers in spaced relation, independent post plates perforated to receive the binding strips, means carried by one of the post plates for opening and closing the perforations, one post plate provided with perforations tor the binding strips and having a portion bent at right angles to lie flat upon the bottom cover plate, the posts secured to the plate standing normally at right angles to the adjacent cover plate, one post plate being;- provided with a slide bar having lingers which pass behind the binding strips, means on the slide bar for moving the latter to cover and uncover respective perforations, and means for securing the slide bar permanently to the post plate.

12. In a temporary binder consisting of top and bottom covers provided with binding strips extending between. the covers and clampii'ig means for holding the covers in spaced relation independent post plates perforated to receive the binding strips, means carri d by one of the post plates for opening and closing the perforations, one, post plate provided with pertorations for the binding stripsand having a portion bent at right angles to lie flat upon the bottom cover plate, the posts secured to the plate standing normally at right angles to the adjacent cover plate, one post plate being provided. with a slide bar having fingers which pass behind the binding strips, means on the slide bar for moving the latter to cover and uncover respective perforations, means for securing the slide bar permanently to the post plate, and each post plate being provided with posts which do not registcr with the posts in the other plate, sheets notched to receive the binding strips and punched to receive the posts in the post plates.

13. In a temporary binder consisting of top and bottom covers provided with binding stripsextending between the covers and clamping means for holding the covers in spaced relation. independent post plates per torated to receive the binding strips, means 'arried by one of the post plates for opening and closing the perforations, one post plate provided with perforations for the binding strips and having a portion bent at right angles to lie fiat upon. the bottom cover plate, the posts secured to the plate stand ing normally at right angles to the adjacent cover plate, one post plate being provided with a slide bar having fingers which pass behind the binding strips, means on the slide bar for moving the latter to cover and uncover respective perforations. means for securing the slide bar permanently to the post plate, each post plate being provided with posts which do not register with the posts in the other plates, sheets notched to receive the binding strips and punched to receive the posts in the post plates, and the post plates being held in position in the hind or by the binding strips and the sheets held in position by the posts in the post plates.

14. 111 a temporary binder consisting of top and bottom covers provided with bindingstrips extending between the covers and clamping means torholding the covers in spaced relation, independent post plates pertorated to receive the binding strips, means carried by one of the post plates for opening and closing the perforations, one post plate provided with perforations tor the binding strips and having a portion bent at right angles to lie flat upon the bottom cover plate, the posts secured to the plate standing normally at right angles to the adjacent cover plate, one post platebeing provided with a slide bar having fingers which pass behind the binding strips, means on the slide bar for moving the latter to cover and uncover respective perforations, means tor securing the slide bar permanently to the post plate, each post plate being provided with posts which do not register with the posts lOG' in the other plates, sheets notched to receive the binding strips and punched to receive the posts in the post plates, the post plates being held in position in the binder by the 5 binding strips and the sheets held in position by the posts in the post plates, the top automatically holding the slide bar in locked engagement with the binding strips, access to the sheets being obtained by releasing the slide bar without releasing the clamping means for holding the covers in spaced relation.

FRANK H. CRUMP. 

